The extraordinary triumph of excellence in sport in an atmosphere of peace between nations

My passionate Olympic viewer tip for today (and every Olympiad day) is to watch coverage from other countries, if you have access. The Canadians, in particular, offer the sweetest, most good-natured, enthusiastic, authentic, thorough, sincere, fair, compassionate informed well-rounded coverage you can find on TV. It's a beautiful balance to the American coverage, which leans toward controversy, judgement, jingoism, and dunderheaded anchors who became jaded two decades ago and who enjoy stirring up a controversy more than they enjoy the extraordinary triumph of excellence in sport in an atmosphere of peace between nations.

There's also a lot to love about the American coverage, of course--I mean, Tara Lapinski and Johnny Weir are a joy; it's like Queer Olympics for the Straight Guy. And Tom Brokaw? Come on. That's good stuff, always. And you wanna hear a smarty pants kick ass athlete? Listen to any woman cyclist discuss her race strategy before the race; if you like smart, kick-ass women athletes (and who doesn't, you ape??), you'll be utterly smitten before she's even half-way through. For example, "Wow! That was...comprehensive...!" said the cycling commentator to American cyclist Kristin Armstrong after she answered a question about what she learned by watching the men's peloton the day before. And the rowing commentators are all business. So, the American coverage isn't all bad. Sometimes its entertaining; and sometimes it's smart; and sometimes they even let the athletes be smart. I'm just saying that if you watch the coverage from other nations, you get this lovely balance and perspective on the whole affair.

One fine example is the controversy surrounding Russia's apparently systematic approach to doping many of its Olympic athletes. Some were barred from competing in Rio; some were not. The American swimming coverage features Michelle Tafoya trying to goad American swimmer Katie Meili into trashing her Russian opponent (Yulia Efimova) after Katie *just* won a bronze medal and was feeling super excited and positive about her performance. Tafoya kept trying to get her to say she was "making a statement" to the Russian that the Gold and Bronze went to the US, who have not tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, whereas Efimova has tested positive but was still allowed to compete. Katie, bless her, wouldn't take the bait, but it was not for lack of trying on Tafoya's part.

Compare this to the Canadian swimming coverage where, in the wrap up, they showed a clip of the live swim coverage from earlier that day, when a Russian men's swim relay team was booed when they entered the arena, and then the Canadian expert commentator said the following in answer to the anchor's question, "What do you make of that?"

He said this in the most compassionate, thoughtful, sincere tone of voice you've ever heard: "It's a really difficult situation. You know, I've never seen swimmers get booed in my entire career or in my history covering the Olympic Games. I hate to say it, but sport, the International Olympic Committee with their decision has put the swimmers in this situation...And just as a sidebar, today the IOC released an edict to ask the athletes to please stop accusing each other of taking drugs. It's being led by the athletes. I think they have a right to stand up for clean sport, but it's certainly not making it easy for anybody here at the Rio Olympics."

There was just so much *kindness* in his remarks. So much compassion and perspective. It was *Olympic* in its spirit. It was sort of the opposite of what the Americans were getting up to at the same time.

You have to have a sincere amount of dedication, I know, to watch as much of the Olympics as I do; it often takes me a few weeks after the games have finished to finish watching everything. :-) But that's okay. By then the Patriots will be playing and all will be well. Well, except that I'll have to put up with more of Michelle Tafoya's sideline interviews...perhaps someone could put out an edict asking her to be nicer? Or...hey! I wonder if the Canadians cover the Patriots?! :-)

Follow this (YouTube) link and you'll find my favorite Canadian Olympics ad. It's from Sport Chek, Canada's largest retailer of sports equipment, sporting goods, sports apparel, shoes and more.